Benedict XVI presides over the recitation of the Rosary. To the Motherhouse of all Marian shrines in the world, a treasure chest of incomparable beauty, the Holy Father welcomed the faithful to the …More
Benedict XVI presides over the recitation of the Rosary. To the Motherhouse of all Marian shrines in the world, a treasure chest of incomparable beauty, the Holy Father welcomed the faithful to the Basilica of Saint Mary Major for the beginning of the Marian month of May and the recitation of the Marian prayer loved by the Saints, the Rosary. This devotion, which in its simplicity and depth is a prayer of great meaning, is a means of Christian contemplation and meditation on the mysteries of the Son, pondered in the silence of the heart of the Mother, she to whom the Lord was closest. The faithful of Rome were packed tightly around Benedict XVI, offering along with the Pope homage to the image of Salus Populi Romani, greatly venerated in Rome, and united in the prayer of the Hail Mary, which opens the hearts of all to the joyful mysteries. "This is not a pious practice relegated to the past - the Holy Father stated - as if it were a prayer of another era to think about with nostalgia. …More
Pope on Faith, Art, Beauty and the Liturgy. I have been speaking in recent weeks about medieval theology, and would now like to turn my attention to how the Christian faith of the Middle Ages inspired …More
Pope on Faith, Art, Beauty and the Liturgy. I have been speaking in recent weeks about medieval theology, and would now like to turn my attention to how the Christian faith of the Middle Ages inspired some of the greatest works of art of all time: the cathedrals of Europe. Romanesque cathedrals are distinctive for their size and for introducing to churches beautiful sculpture, including the image of Christ as the Universal Judge and the Gate of Heaven. By entering through Him, as it were, the faithful enter a space and even a time different from everyday life, somewhere they can anticipate eternal life through their participation in the liturgy. Gradually, Gothic architecture replaced the Romanesque, adding height and luminosity to the previous style. The Gothic cathedral translates the aspirations of the soul into architectural lines, and is a synthesis between faith, art and beauty which still raises our hearts and minds to God today. When faith encounters art, in particular in the …More
Beauty Brings Joy to the Human Heart. Pope Benedict XVI on Saturday met with over 260 artists from five continents in the Sistine Chapel, offering a reflection on art and beauty. He said that if we …More
Beauty Brings Joy to the Human Heart. Pope Benedict XVI on Saturday met with over 260 artists from five continents in the Sistine Chapel, offering a reflection on art and beauty. He said that if we acknowledge that beauty touches us intimately, that it wounds us, that it opens our eyes, then we rediscover the joy of seeing, of being able to grasp the profound meaning of our existence. The meeting was meant to re-establish a historic friendship between the Church and the arts, and came on the 10th anniversary of the Letter to Artists of Pope John Paul II. Pope Benedict said art art in all its expressions has the ability to "broaden the horizons of human consciousness", and "looking out over the abyss of the Infinite" it becomes a ...
Benedict XVI: Media should communicate wisdom. It is urgent to communicate messages of wisdom, that is, messages inspired by truth, goodness and beauty. Pope Benedict XVI recalled this today to culture …More
Benedict XVI: Media should communicate wisdom. It is urgent to communicate messages of wisdom, that is, messages inspired by truth, goodness and beauty. Pope Benedict XVI recalled this today to culture and media workers during the reflection of the general audience dedicated to medieval English theologian John of Salisbury. Benedict referred to the theologian's writings on the objective and unchangeable truth that is in God, which is accessible to human reason and concerns practical and social action. The English theologian would remind us today to be conformed to natural law and equity, he said: only those laws that defend the sacredness of human life and reject the legitimacy of abortion, euthanasia and unrestricted genetic experiments; the law ...
Pope: Beauty is One of Mankind's Greatest Needs. "Beauty is a great necessity for man" and is the root of our peace and our hope. It also reveals God because, like him, the work of beauty is pure …More
Pope: Beauty is One of Mankind's Greatest Needs. "Beauty is a great necessity for man" and is the root of our peace and our hope. It also reveals God because, like him, the work of beauty is pure gratuity, it calls us to freedom and draws us away from selfishness." These were the Pope's words at a Mass to consecrate the basilica of Sagrada Familia in Barcelona on Sunday. The Pope called the church a "marvelous synthesis of technical art and faith," and said its architect, Antonio Gaudi, was a "brilliant architect and committed Christian."After meeting King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain in the basilica's museum hall, Benedict XVI presided over the rite of consecration in front of 6,900 faithful, and another 100,000 who had gathered in a nearby ...
Benedict XVI: St. Bonaventure, the seeker of God. Faith is the improvement of our cognitive capacities, and the participation in the knowledge that God has of Himself and of the world. This is what …More
Benedict XVI: St. Bonaventure, the seeker of God. Faith is the improvement of our cognitive capacities, and the participation in the knowledge that God has of Himself and of the world. This is what Benedict XVI said on Sunday evening, September 6th, at the end of his visit to Bagnoregio, the birthplace of St. Bonaventure, known as a profound seeker and lover of wisdom.After having venerated the holy arm of this Franciscan theologian, to whom the Pope dedicated his postdoctoral thesis in 1957, Benedict XVI recalled that besides being a seeker of God, St. Bonaventure was also a musician of creation.How valuable it would be, the Pope said, to also rediscover today the beauty and value of creation in light of the divine goodness and beauty! ...
Benedict XVI: To know how to explain the beauty of faith in our time. The preaching of the gospel should be perceived in its beauty and originality in order to effectively reach the men and women of …More
Benedict XVI: To know how to explain the beauty of faith in our time. The preaching of the gospel should be perceived in its beauty and originality in order to effectively reach the men and women of our time, who often are distracted and absorbed by a cultural environment that is not always inclined to welcome beauty in full harmony with truth and goodness, but who are nevertheless always desirous of an authentic non superficial or ephemeral beauty. Benedict XVI mentioned this in his written message to the public session of the Pontifical Academies on the theme "Universality and Beauty: Aesthetics and Ethics Confronted," which was attended by the Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone. The Pope expressed his hope that the harmony between the Church and the world of art in light of the Christian creed will increase, because testimony should be nurtured with beauty.
Pope: "rediscover the beauty of being baptized " "I would encourage all the faithful to rediscover the beauty of being baptized, to belong to the family of God and to give joyful witness of their faith …More
Pope: "rediscover the beauty of being baptized " "I would encourage all the faithful to rediscover the beauty of being baptized, to belong to the family of God and to give joyful witness of their faith, so that it generates good fruits and harmony. " Those were the Pope's words this morning, before the Angelus prayer, when he made reference to today's feast of the Baptism of the Lord. Every baptized person, said Pope Benedict, acquires the character of the son of God "from the Christian name, an unmistakable sign that the Holy Spirit gives birth to a man from the womb of the Church. " After the Marian prayer, the Pope reminded the people of Haiti, one year after the terrible earthquake that struck the Caribbean island and the cholera epi ...
Benedict XVI prays for the whole world. Grow in harmony, seek the truth. This was Pope Benedict XVIs message as he left Portugal, on Friday afternoon, after four intense days in Lisbon, Fatima and …More
Benedict XVI prays for the whole world. Grow in harmony, seek the truth. This was Pope Benedict XVIs message as he left Portugal, on Friday afternoon, after four intense days in Lisbon, Fatima and Oporto. At Fatima, the Pope said, I prayed for the whole world, that the future will bring increased fraternity and solidarity, greater mutual respect and a renewed trust and confidence in God, our Father in heaven. The Pope said he was moved by the enthusiasm of the children and young people, the fidelity of priests, deacons and religious, the bishops' pastoral dedication and desire to seek truth and beauty evident in the world of cultural, the creativity of social-care workers, the vibrant faith of believers in the dioceses that I visited. My ...
Benedict XVI: The love of Christ is our strength. Benedict XVI: We must not be afraid of truth, because it is a friend of man and his freedom. Indeed, only by sincerely seeking truth, goodness and …More
Benedict XVI: The love of Christ is our strength. Benedict XVI: We must not be afraid of truth, because it is a friend of man and his freedom. Indeed, only by sincerely seeking truth, goodness and beauty can we truly offer a future to the young pe...
Benedict XVI: strengthen the Christian witness. The relationship with God is constitutive of the human person, who was created and ordered towards God, who seek truth, tends towards good, and is …More
Benedict XVI: strengthen the Christian witness. The relationship with God is constitutive of the human person, who was created and ordered towards God, who seek truth, tends towards good, and is attracted by beauty. In this way Benedict XVI introduced himself in Portugal during the first address as he disembarked the plane on the occasion of his fifteenth apostolic journey. The conscience is Christian - said the Pope - to the extent that it is open to the fullness of life and wisdom, which we have in Jesus Christ. The visit, which is now beginning in an atmosphere of hope, is expected to be a mission and an offering of wisdom. Benedict XVI then recalled the Christian roots of Portugal, and the historic tie between this country and the modern papacy. He also noted that the secularism of the country has become a challenge, because living in the plurality of value systems and ethical frameworks requires a journey to the center of one's self and to the heart of Christianity in order to …More
2,000 singers will lead the Holy Father's Mass on Saturday in Paris. One hundred choirs from throughout France have responded to the call of the diocese of Paris, sending more than 2,000 singers. This …More
2,000 singers will lead the Holy Father's Mass on Saturday in Paris. One hundred choirs from throughout France have responded to the call of the diocese of Paris, sending more than 2,000 singers. This unique formation of a choir is an unprecedented challenge for its two directors, Letitia Trouvet and François Polgard. The challenge is even greater because this exceptional choir will have had only two opportunities to practice all 18 songs of Saturday’s program. The songs have been selected so that the greatest number of faithful can join in the singing. Among the choir itself, the enthusiasm is unanimous. "We looked for songs of quality because it is very important for the beauty of the liturgy that the songs are quality pieces, but it is also very important that the congregation can participate. So it is both quality songs and community songs." "Already the song in itself is a sharing of something .. and then there is the aspect of sharing it with a number of incredible voices .. people …More
Dialogue and compromise the only way forward in Lebanon. "I exhort all the Lebanese people to abandon all thoughts of violent opposition that could bring their dear country irreparable harm." After …More
Dialogue and compromise the only way forward in Lebanon. "I exhort all the Lebanese people to abandon all thoughts of violent opposition that could bring their dear country irreparable harm." After his traditional Regina Caeli address, Benedict XVI issued a call for peace in Lebanon, saying that "dialogue, mutual understanding and research for reasonable compromises are the only way to restore to Lebanon, its institutions and people the security necessary for a dignified life that is full of hope for tomorrow." The Holy Father added that "the diverse communities that make up Lebanon are at the same time a unique strength but also a difficulty. But it makes the nation's well-being become the duty of all of its inhabitants." Before the usual Marian prayer and referring to Pentecost, celebrated the same day, Benedict XVI asked all the faithful to rediscover "the beauty of being baptized in the Holy Spirit. Let us remember that our Baptism and Confirmation flow from an ever-new source of …More
A Message to Young People. Listen to this beautiful quote by our pontiff, Pope Benedict XVI, on the beauty of giving ones life to God in any state of life. Taken from Everyone has a Vocation to Love:…More
A Message to Young People. Listen to this beautiful quote by our pontiff, Pope Benedict XVI, on the beauty of giving ones life to God in any state of life. Taken from Everyone has a Vocation to Love: Whats Yours? The Vocation to the Religious Life for Women by the Knights of Columbus. Visit www.kofc.org.
Benedict XVI: Study theology to preach the Gospel. During the weekly general audience, Benedict XVI focused on St. Dominic of Guzman. The pope said St. Dominic is an example of someone who distinguished …More
Benedict XVI: Study theology to preach the Gospel. During the weekly general audience, Benedict XVI focused on St. Dominic of Guzman. The pope said St. Dominic is an example of someone who distinguished himself for his interest in the study of Sacred Scriptures and his love for the poor. The pope called on priests and lay people to study their Christian faith profoundly in the name of the founder of the Dominican Order. Benedict XVI I encourage all, pastors and lay people, to cultivate this cultural dimension of faith, that the beauty of Christian truth may be better understood and the faith truly nourished, strengthened and defended. According to Benedict XVI, studying theology isnt a way to achieve a brilliant career; but a service to be rendered with dedication and humility.
The Pope at the Angelus: Immaculate Mary is a reflection of the beauty of God's salvation. Benedict XVI: "In Mary Immaculate, we contemplate the reflection of that beauty that saves the world: the …More
The Pope at the Angelus: Immaculate Mary is a reflection of the beauty of God's salvation. Benedict XVI: "In Mary Immaculate, we contemplate the reflection of that beauty that saves the world: the beauty of God that shines on the face of Christ. In Mary, this beauty is totally pure, humble, free from any pride and presumption. " Thus Benedict XVI spoke during the Angelus on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception this morning, of the one who is "Full of Grace", the first to be freed of the original fall of our first parents. This mystery reminds us of two fundamental truths of our faith, the Holy Father explained: original sin and the victory over it through the grace of Christ that radiates in Mary. Original sin, the experience of evil, around us and within us, Benedict XVI further commented, poses a profound question, especially for the believer: where does evil come from, if God the Creator is absolute Goodness? As the story of creation responds to this question, the Holy Father …More
Pope: Beauty is a privileged way to approach God. "When faith meets art, a profound harmony is created, since both can and want to speak of God, rendering the invisible visible."Looking ahead to …More
Pope: Beauty is a privileged way to approach God. "When faith meets art, a profound harmony is created, since both can and want to speak of God, rendering the invisible visible."Looking ahead to Saturday's meeting with artists, the Pope devoted attention during today's general audience to one of the highest artistic expressions of universal civilization, cathedrals, "the true glory of the Christian Middle Ages." The Pope illustrated the particular characteristics of Romanesque churches, as well as those of the Gothic style, as true 'Bibles in stone'. He recalled the strength and substance of the first, while praising the dynamism of the latter; each of their architectural plans attempted to translate the soul's longing for God into their building s ...
Benedict XVI: faith is love, therefore creates poetry and music. "Faith is love, and so it creates poetry and music, faith is joy, and so it creates beauty". Inspired by the figure Romano di Melode, …More
Benedict XVI: faith is love, therefore creates poetry and music. "Faith is love, and so it creates poetry and music, faith is joy, and so it creates beauty". Inspired by the figure Romano di Melode, sixth century theologian, poet and composer of the Eastern Church, Benedict XVI introduced him during the catechesis today at the General Audience. Before more than 15 thousand faithful gathered in the Vatican Basilica and the Paul VI Hall, the Pope offered words of gratitude to Romano, for the 89 liturgical hymns which have been handed down to us, allowing us to appreciate the richness of the theological, liturgical and devotional content of the Christian culture of that era. With simple language accessible to all listeners, Syrian-born Romano preached throughout Constantinople, communicating above all an understanding of the plan of salvation through Christ. "A touchable humanity, zeal of faith and deep humility pervade his songs - concluded Benedict XVI - and remind us of the richness of …More
